Camping in the Cape

Spring in the Cape | 08 Aug 2005

Once again a really wonderful month weather-wise, beautiful warm sunny days, with a crisp freshness in the mornings and evenings, adding a very small dose of cloud and rain at night (just like ….Camelot ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ) to keep the gardens nice and green.

It has also been an absolutely awesome month watching the whales right along the coast line, (from Mossel Bay to Victoria Bay). We don’t go much further than Vic Bay (East) as there are some rather severe road works going on and it is not a very pleasant drive. We have seen whales so close to the shore at Vic Bay that the surfers had to keep a close eye on just how far they wandered over the waves in case they bumped into them! We have since been told that the whale spray has a rather terrible smell and it is difficult to get it off once you have connected with it. Last Sunday, after a visit with family members at Groot Brak River, we must have seen at least 15 whales just off the beach (not easy to judge distance) but they were easily visible and one or two (teens probably) were leaping right out of the water – a show specially put on for us “old” Gautengers. At the same time there was a very large school of dolphins playing in the waves on the beach. The waves were breaking fairly softly onto the sands, and some of the dolphins were surfing in the 3rd breaker from the beach with others diving over and under them. Quite spectacular. If it had been possible to get down the slope onto the beach one could have paddled out to them. (WHY DO WE LOVE GEORGE?)

We have now finally, after visiting four different cell groups, found one we will settle in, seems to be just right for us, not too big and the right mix of ages and gender. Please keep us in your prayers as we settle into the group.

“One of us” – and not the one you are thinking – has come up with an identity crisis, she just can’t make her mind up as to whether she should remain whom she was made to be or should take off and become someone bigger and more important. It is probably due to all the high mountain pass climbing and the high altitudes she knows she can master. Our dear little station wagon has developed a rather “jet” like drone if you try to go into 5th gear before you get to 80km. Really sounds like she is all set for take-off. Anyway her very capable doctor has said it is nothing to worry about as at her age she is in very good condition and we should just live with her little idiosyncrasies.

A good part of this month, and extra cash, has been spent getting our garden into shape and - in our opinion – looking good for the approaching summer.

Mid month brought a quick weekend visit from Calan, who had returned to SA for a few days to sort out his visa before returning via a week in France for a further 2 years in the UK. As always it was really lovely having him here and spending some time sharing his dreams and ideas. He is shortly off to Croatia to sail the ocean in a catamaran – the great life of the young and energetic(!) The launch of his latest project (web site) will probably take him touring Europe before the end of the year, and along with all this work and fun he is able to take part in some marathons and cycling too. Guess he can’t understand these two “older” ladies in his life who are absolutely contented to enjoy the beauty of the land around them.

Talking of the beauty of the land, today (Sunday) we took off at 8.30am for the Railway Museum to board a steam train that was being run by the Heritage Preservation to Zebra and back. (Passenger trains no long run on these lines, and all trips are special tourist excursions). Zebra is about half way between George and Oudtshoorn. The train was hauled by Loco No. 4122 – type GMA Garratt that was in bygone days used to haul trains over the Montagu Pass. (That bit of information was for those of you who are steam train experts).

Locations Visited: George

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